Wallpaper scraper

ABSTRACT

A scraper for manually scraping a layer of material, such as wallpaper for example, off a given surface. The scraper includes a handle, front and rear portions, a roller assembly and a scraping tool. The handle is used for manual handling of the scraper, and has front and rear extremities. The front portion extends forwardly from the front extremity of the handle, at an angle from the handle, and has a top part connected to the front extremity of the handle and a bottom part used for operatively resting the scraper against the given surface to be treated with the scraper. The rear portion extends rearwardly from the rear extremity of the handle, at an angle from said handle, and has similar top and bottom parts. The roller assembly is operatively mounted to the bottom part of the rear portion for facilitating displacement of the scraper over the given surface to be treated. The scraping tool extends from the bottom part of the front portion, at an angle from the handle, for scrapping off the layer of material from the given surface to be treated via a displacement of the scraper over the given surface.

The present application claims priority of U.S. provisional patent application No. 60/836,363 dated Aug. 9, 2006, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a scraper. More particularly, in its intended preferred use, the present invention relates to a wallpaper scraper for scraping wallpaper and the like, in addition to carrying out other related multitask functions, as well as to a method of use associated thereto.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Devices such as manual scrapers used for scraping, removing or stripping layers or residual portions of wallpaper, paint, hardened glue, and the like, from surfaces, whether substantially flat or other, are well known in the art.

The Assignee of the present application has developed several of such products, some of which are described in the following US patents and industrial designs: D258,043; D263,277; D414,395; D431,993; D435,408; D463,639; D474,389; U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,829,331; 6,719,620; 6,726,868; 6,742,215; and 6,775,912, the contents of which are also incorporated herein by reference.

Also known to the Applicant are the following US patents, patent application and industrial designs which describe various scrapers and the like: U.S. Pat. Nos. 851,518; 1,156,783; 1,826,496; 2,402,994; 2,634,498; 2,768,437; 2,882,594; 3,195,232; 3,363,316; 4,813,458; 5,027,512; 5,490,331; 5,706,553; 6,629,331 B2; 2002/0026672 A1; 2002/0095737 A1; 2005/0060891 A1; 200510172432 A1; and Des. 142,468.

It is also known in the art that surfaces to be treated with conventional scrapers may range in various shapes and sizes, such as walls, floors, ceilings, wooden surfaces, and others, as well as rooms, platforms, furniture, boards, frames, and the like, for example.

These manual scrapers generally comprise a handle and an end operatively connected to an extremity of the handle for scraping the upper surface of a layer to be removed.

It is also known in the art that very often, for various time or financial constraints, ft is very important to remove said layers and residual portions of materials as fast as possible, while preventing any harm such as scratches, cutting, and the like, to the users of these manual scrapers. However, conventional scrapers are not always optimally designed for allowing an ergonomic use of the tool, for extended period of portions, and/or for an improved scraping of the material.

It is also known in the art that some conventional scrapers may be conveniently used for scraping surfaces and the like, but unfortunately, are not always designed so as to prevent the occurrence of undesirable damages to the surfaces being treated, therefore occasionally causing unwanted notches and other damages on the surfaces to be scraped, which subsequently need to be repaired, etc., which is disadvantageous, for obvious reasons.

It is also known in the art that most conventional scrapers are very task specific, and thus are not ultimately designed so as to enable to carry out a variety of tasks. For example, most conventional wallpaper scrapers are not provided with suitable means so as to enable to subsequently install new wallpaper on the surface having been treated (stripped), so as to not only appose the wallpaper onto a given surface, but also enable a proper seam formation between two adjacent sheets of wallpaper, for example.

Hence, in light of the aforementioned, there is a need for a device, which by virtue of its design and components, would be able to overcome some of the above-discussed prior art problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a device, which by virtue of its design and components, satisfies some of the above-mentioned needs and is thus an improvement over other related devices and/or methods known in the prior art.

In accordance with the present invention, the above object is achieved, as will be easily understood, with a scraper, such as the one briefly described herein, and such as the one exemplified in the accompanying drawings.

More particularly, and according to the present invention, there is provided a scraper for manually scraping a layer of material off a given surface, the scraper comprising:

a handle for manual handling of the scraper, the handle having front and rear extremities;

a front portion extending forwardly from the front extremity of the handle, at an angle from said handle, the front portion having a top part connected to the front extremity of the handle and a bottom part used for operatively resting the scraper against the given surface to be treated with the scraper;

a rear portion extending rearwardly from the rear extremity of the handle, at an angle from said handle, the rear portion having a top part connected to the rear extremity of the handle and a bottom part used for operatively resting the scraper against the given surface to be treated with the scraper;

a roller assembly operatively mounted to the bottom part of the rear portion for facilitating displacement of the scraper over the given surface to be treated when its front and rear portions are rested thereagainst; and

a tool extending from the bottom part of the front portion, at an angle from the handle, for scrapping off the layer of material from the given surface to be treated via a displacement of the scraper over said given surface.

Preferably, the front and rear portions of the scraper are shaped and sized so as to define thereinbetween a space allowing fingers of a user of the scraper to be placed under the handle, away from the given surface to be treated.

Preferably also, the handle is made of a substantially rigid material for sustaining loads to which the scraper may be subjected to, and said handle is further provided with an elastomeric covering for improving an ergonomic handling of the scraper.

Preferably also, the handle is made of a material having a color different from that of the elastomeric covering so as to form a visual contrast between the handle and the covering, and the roller assembly is made of a material having a color substantially similar to that of the elastomeric covering.

Preferably also, the handle and the front and rear portions of the scraper are made of one single piece and out of one single material via a corresponding manufacturing process, and at least one sign is preferably produced on the handle, the sign being selected from the group consisting of names, words, numbers, logos, trademarks and symbols conveying information.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the roller assembly comprises a shaft pivotally mounted onto opposite ends of the bottom part of the rear portion. Preferably also, the opposite ends of the bottom part of the rear portion are rounded off.

According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the tool is substantially flexible, and the tool is further configured about the bottom part of the front portion so that a distal end of the tool rests at an angle against the given surface to be treated when the front and rear portions of the scraper are pressed against said given surface. Preferably also, side edges of the tool are rounded off. The tool may also be configured as to be removably connectable to the bottom part of the front portion, and may consist of a blade, a razor, a spatula, or any other suitable type of tool for allowing the scraper to remove the layer of material off from the surface to be treated.

According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the handle comprises an internal bore extending along the handle, and either one of the handle, front portion and rear portion, are preferably provided with a reinforcement selected from the group consisting of ribs, Flanges, and shoulders.

According to alternate preferred embodiments of the invention, the rear portion may be configured so as to be detachable from the rear extremity of the handle. The shaft of the roller assembly could also be provided with spikes for perforating the layer of material via a passage of the scraper and corresponding roller assembly over the given surface to be treated.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is also provided a wallpaper scraper for manually scraping a layer of wallpaper off a given wall surface, the wallpaper scraper comprising:

a substantially horizontal handle for manual handling of the scraper, the handle having a longitudinal axis, and front and rear extremities;

a front portion extending forwardly from the front extremity of the handle, at an angle from the longitudinal axis of said handle, the front portion having a top part connected to the front extremity of the handle and a bottom part used for operatively resting the scraper against the given surface to be treated with the scraper;

a rear portion extending rearwardly from the rear extremity of the handle, at an angle from the longitudinal axis of said handle, the rear portion having a top part connected to the rear extremity of the handle and a bottom part used for operatively resting the scraper against the given surface to be treated with the scraper;

a roller assembly operatively mounted to the bottom part of the rear portion for facilitating displacement of the scraper over the given surface to be treated when its front and rear portions are rested thereagainst; and

a tool extending from the bottom part of the front portion, at an angle from the longitudinal axis of the handle, for abutting against and scrapping off the layer of material from the given surface to be treated via a displacement of the scraper over said given surface.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is also provided a tool assembly comprising an extension rod provided with the above-mentioned scraper.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is also provided a method for operating the above-mentioned tool assembly and/or scraper.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is also provided a kit for assembling the above-mentioned tool assembly and/or scraper.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is also provided a method for assembling components of the above-mentioned kit.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is also provided a method of manufacturing the above-mentioned tool assembly and/or scraper.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is also provided a method of operating the above-mentioned tool assembly and/or scraper.

The objects, advantages and other features of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading of the following non-restrictive description of preferred embodiments thereof, given for the purpose of exemplification only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a wallpaper scraper according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of what is shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a left elevational side view of what is shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a right elevations a side view of what is shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of what is shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of what is shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of what is shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a rear elevational view of what is shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

In the following description, the same numerical references refer to similar elements. The embodiments, geometrical configurations, materials mentioned and/or dimensions shown in the figures are preferred, for exemplification purposes only.

Moreover, although the present invention was primarily designed for scraping materials, such as wallpaper for example, as well as carrying out other functions related thereto (e.g. facilitating the apposing of new wallpaper on a given surface, facilitating the carrying out of a seam between two adjacent sheets of wallpaper, etc.), it may be used with other types of materials and objects (posters, friezes, paint, hardened glue, thin plaster, cement layers, etc.) and in other fields (such as for scraping ice off windshields and the like, for example), as apparent to a person skilled in the art. For this reason, expressions such as “scraper”, “wall”, “paper”, “removing”, etc., as used herein should not be taken as to limit the scope of the present invention and includes all other kinds of materials and/or purposes with which the present invention could be used and may be useful. Indeed, although the scraper 1 according to the present invention is preferably used in the renovating industry, it is to be understood by a person skilled in the art that it could be used for any other kind of layer requiring to be partially or entirely removed, as well as for facilitating the affixing of a new layer onto a given surface, for example, as will be explained in greater detail hereinbelow.

Moreover, in the context of the present invention, the expressions “scraper”, “tool”, “device”, “unit”, “apparatus”, and any other equivalent expression known in the art will be used interchangeably. Furthermore, the same applies for any other mutually equivalent expressions, such as “wallpaper”, “carpet”, “varnish” and “paint”, “scraping” and “removing”, as well as “layer” and “material” for example, as well as “connected” and “mounted”, or even “tool” and “blade”, as also apparent to a person skilled in the art.

In addition, although the preferred embodiment of the present invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings comprises various components and although the preferred embodiment of the scraper 1 as shown consists of certain geometrical configurations as explained and illustrated herein, not all of these components and geometries are essential to the invention and thus should not be taken in their restrictive sense, i.e. should not be taken as to limit the scope of the present invention. It is to be understood, as also apparent to a person skilled in the art, that other suitable components and cooperations thereinbetween, as well as other suitable geometrical configurations may be used for the scraper 1 and corresponding parts according to the present invention, as briefly explained and as can be easily inferred herefrom by a person skilled in the art, without departing from the scope of the invention.

Broadly described, the scraper 1 according to the present invention, as shown in the accompanying drawings, is a device which, in its preferred intended use, is a wallpaper scraper 1 which is mainly used for removing wallpaper, having been humidified preferably beforehand, as can be easily by a person skilled in the art.

Indeed, according to a preferred embodiment of use of the present wallpaper scraper 1, old wallpaper to be removed, is preferably wetted in a convenient manner such as is known in the art. Following a suitable penetration of the water under the surface to be removed, such as the wallpaper for example, said wallpaper is preferably punched with a series of holes so as to facilitate and improve the penetration of the water into and/or under the wallpaper to be removed. Thus, according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the punching of such holes can be carried out with a portion of the blade 3 of the scraper 1 as shown in the accompanying drawings, or with another suitable component thereof which could be provided on the wallpaper scraper 1 and intended specifically to that effect, or even with another component being primarily used for one function, but which could also be used alternatively for another function, as will be explained in greater detail when referring to the roller assembly 17. Preferably also, the surface to be removed is wetted once again, and subsequently, after an appropriate time delay, the wallpaper scraper 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is preferably used by resting the blade 3 of the wallpaper scraper 1 onto a surface to be treated, and preferably between a surface provided with the wallpaper to be removed, and said wallpaper to be removed, such that when advancing the wallpaper scraper 1 or the blade 3 thereof about the surface and into the wallpaper to be removed, said wallpaper will be removed by virtue of the blade 3 of the present wallpaper scraper 1, as can be easily understood when referring to the accompanying drawings.

Indeed, as can be easily understood when referring to FIGS. 1-8, the wallpaper scraper 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention preferably comprises a substantially horizontal handle 5, as better shown in FIG. 3, with corresponding front and rear portions 7,9 operatively connected to front and rear extremities 11,13 of said handle 5, as also better shown in FIG. 3. Preferably also, the front portion 7 of the scraper 1 is slanted, or at an angle, with respect to the handle 5 thereof, and the rear portion 9 of the scraper 1 is also at an angle, or slanted, with respect to the handle 5 thereof.

As can be easily understood from the accompanying drawings, and depending on the particular applications for which the present scraper 1 is intended for, the handle 5 thereof is preferably made of a substantially rigid material, such as plastic, and the like, in order to be able to properly sustain corresponding loads subjected thereto by users or other corresponding tools to be used with the scraper 1. Preferably also, so as to enable a more ergonomic and more comfortable and secure grip of the scraper 1, the handle 5 thereof is provided with a corresponding covering 15 intended to that effect. Preferably also, said covering 15 is made of an elastomeric material, such as rubber and the like, for allowing a soft grip ergonomic handling of the scraper 1, as can be easily understood by a person skilled in the art.

As better shown in FIG. 2, the rear portion 9 of the scraper 1 is preferably provided with a corresponding roller assembly 17 having preferably a corresponding shaft 19 extending therethrough and pivotally mounted onto corresponding opposite ends 21,23 of the rear portion 9, as can be easily understood when referring to FIGS. 2, 5, 6 and 8, so as to enable the roller assembly 17 to be pivotally rollable with respect to the rear portion 9 onto which it is mounted. Preferably, and as can be easily understood by a person skilled in the art when referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the contour shapes of the opposite ends 21,23 of the rear portion 9 are preferably rounded off so as to be complementary in shape to that of the adjacent roller assembly 17 so as to enable for an easier and smoother roller application of the roller assembly 17, the shape and the size of the aforementioned opposite ends 21,23 being such so that they do not interfere with a given surface being treated with the scraper 1 when the roller assembly 17 thereof is used on a given surface, as can be easily understood by a person skilled in the art. Preferably also, and for increasing a structural reinforcement of said rear portion 9, the latter may be provided with corresponding ribs, flanges, shoulders, and the like 25, extending from an appropriate surface of said rear portion 9 of the scraper 1, as also better shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4.

Referring now to the front portion 7 of the scraper 1, and as better illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, the blade 3 with which the scraping of a given surface is to be carried out with the present scraper 1 is preferably operatively connected to an extremity of the front portion 7 of the scraper 1, and preferably also, rigidly connected thereto by suitable means, whether securely affixed thereto in a permanent manner (with fasteners, via a suitable manufacturing process, etc.), or whether in a removable manner, as can be easily understood by a person skilled in the art. It is worth mentioning also that several modifications could be made to the blade 3 according to the present invention, in that, this component is not necessarily limited to a blade 3 per se, but could rather be replaced by any other suitable component, whether rigid or more flexible, made of plastic for example, which could be used for different purposes with which the present scraper 1 could be used and may be useful, such as for example, an ice scraper 1 for scraping ice off windshields and the like. Indeed, it is worth mentioning, as can be easily understood by a person skilled in the art, that the blade 3 could be replaced by any other suitable object which could be rigidly or removably mounted to the front portion 7 of the scraper 1, as aforementioned, so as to enable to properly scrape a surface depending on the surface to be treated (for example, the blade 3 could be a spatula made out of stainless steel for using with drywall and the like, the blade 3 could made out of a polymeric material for scraping glass panels covered with ice or other, the blade 3 could be provided with a sharpened leading edge which could also be used as a “razor/scraper” for removing stickers, adhesives, and the like, from glass surfaces or others, for example), and other applications with which the present scraper 1 could be used and may be useful, as apparent to a person skilled in the art.

As may also be better appreciated when referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the rear and front portions 7,9 of the scraper 1 are preferably slanted with respect to the handle 5 thereof, so as to, if desired, allow the fingers of a user of the scraper 1 to be conveniently located underneath the handle 5 thereof, while having a sufficient amount of space between said fingers and the surface about which the scraper 1 is displaced so as to carry out scraping and other similar functions, as can be easily understood. As better shown in FIGS. 1-4, the rubberized covering provided on the handle 5 is preferably provided on an upper portion thereof, but can be conveniently positioned, shaped and sized about different other locations of the handle 5 or scraper 1, depending on the particular applications for which the scraper 1 is intended for, as can be easily understood by a person skilled in the art.

As may now be better appreciated, the roller assembly 17 of the present scraper 1 does not only enable the scraper 1 to be conveniently and easily displaced about a given surface having a layer to be removed, as can be easily understood from FIGS. 1-3, but also provides the present scraper 1 with additional stability and preventing the blade 3 of the scraper 1 from disadvantageously penetrating into a given wall, during operation of the scraper 1, thereby preventing unwanted gauging of the wall due in part to the unique stabilizing roller assembly 17 of the present invention, and the disposition of the front and rear portions 7,9. Furthermore, this very same roller assembly 17 can also be used for affixing or installing new wallpaper on a given wall surface, and/or for facilitating the carrying out or the joining of a seam between two adjacent sheets of wallpaper, as can be easily understood by a person skilled in the art. It is also worth mentioning that other several modifications could be made to the roller assembly 17 of the present scraper 1 without departing from the scope of the present invention, as apparent to a person skilled in the art. For example, the roller assembly 17 of the present scraper could be replaced by another type of roller, provided with suitable spikes, for example, so as to enable to carry out a series of holes onto a given wallpaper to be removed with the present scraper 1, as aforementioned. Indeed, the replacement roller assembly 17 could be a serrated or a toothed roller assembly 17 enabling to perforate a wallpaper to be removed so that water or solvent could better penetrate into and/or under the given material to be removed, as previously explained. Furthermore, the roller assembly 17 could be replaced by another suitable component, such as a sponge roller assembly 17, for wetting or absorbing a given surface, or carrying out other related functions. Thus, it may be better appreciated that the roller assembly 17 according to the present invention may take on different embodiments, depending on the particular applications for which the present scraper 1 is intended for, as apparent by a person skilled in the art. Furthermore, it is also to be understood that one single roller assembly 17, or a plurality of roller assemblies 17, could be used with the present scraper 1, as also apparent by a person skilled in the art.

Indeed, according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the present scraper 1 could be used for the above-mentioned functions, and thus, the roller assembly 17 could be securely connected to the rear portion 9 of the scraper 1, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-8, or could be removable connectable thereto, so as to, for example, remove the roller assembly 17 from the handle 5, and exclusively carry out rolling functions similar to the ones described above, and as can be easily understood by a person skilled in the art.

As may now be better appreciated in reference to the accompanying drawings, the blade 3 of the scraper 1 according to the present invention is preferably at a given angle so as to facilitate an optimal carrying out of scraping applications and the like. Indeed, the given angle of the blade 3, as better shown in FIG. 3, enables to optimize a performance of the present scraper 1, while avoiding any unwanted damages to the surface being treated.

Preferably also, the blade 3 of the scraper 1 according to the present invention is preferably treated metallurgically by means of a suitable treating process so as to resist to wear when used against different types of material and surfaces.

Preferably also, and as can be easily understood when referring to FIGS. 1, 5, 6 and 7, corresponding corners of the above-mentioned blade 3 are preferably rounded off so as to not damage the given layer to be removed from a given surface, such as wallpaper and the like.

It can be easily understood also from the accompanying drawings that according to the present invention, the present scraper 1 allows the palm of the hand of a given user to be conveniently rested at the extremity of the handle 5 so as to allow for a greater force and leverage with the scraper. Furthermore, as can be easily understood therefrom, the hand of a user is free from the wall during the use of the present scraper 1.

Preferably also, and as better shown in FIG. 1, the handle 5 is provided with a corresponding bore 27 extending substantially therethrough, and in a convenient manner, so as to not compromise the structural soundness of the handle 5 and resulting scraper 1, but at the same time enabling for a much lighter tool due to the presence of said bore 27. The bore 27 may also be shaped and sized so as to receive therein a corresponding tool to be used in conjunction with the present scraper 1, such as an extension rod, so as to be able to use the present scraper 1 at a distance from the hands of a user, depending on the particular applications for which the scraper 1 is intended for or the circumstances under which it is used (locations hard to reach due to the limited height of a user, etc.).

Preferably also, the covering 15 of the handle 5 or of other portions of the present scraper 1, and the rest thereof, are preferably selected so as to be of different colors, and different contrasting colors, so as to provide for a very attractive design of the scraper 1, and so as to enable to commercialize the present scraper 1 under the colors of the corresponding manufacturers, for example. Furthermore, the handle 5 or other corresponding portions of the scraper 1 may be provided with suitable continuous or discontinuous strands of numbers, letters, and/or other symbols conveying information, so as to transmit to the user corresponding information regarding the scraper 1, its distributor, and/or its manufacturer, via a corresponding logo for example, or other suitable display of information. For example, a logo could be provided on the present scraper 1 according to a double-molding process such as the one described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,726,868 having been obtained by the Assignee of the present application, the content of this US patent being incorporated herein by reference.

As also better shown in FIG. 1, the means for operatively connecting the blade 3 to the front portion 7 of the scraper 1 could also be provided with corresponding ribs, shoulders, flanges, and the like 25, so as to provided said front portion 7 with additional structural reinforcement so as to properly sustain the loads that the blade and corresponding front portion 7 of the scraper 1 may be subjected to during use of the scraper 1, as can be easily understood by a person skilled in the art.

As previously explained, and according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the scraper 1 comprises at least one elongated flat blade 3 adapted for scraping a surface and mounted on a rigid front portion 7, a handle 5 connected to the front portion 7 and at least one roller 17 mounted on a rear portion 9 connected with the handle 5.

Preferably also, the handle 5 is rigidly connected to the front and rear portions 7,9, but alternatively, the handle 5 could also be removably connected to said portions 7,9.

Preferably also, the handle 5 is substantially rigid and preferably has the shape of a substantially hollow cylinder partially covered with an anti-skid rubber.

Preferably also, each of the rigid front and rear portions 7,9 forms respectively with the handle 5 an appropriate angle so to provide a room for a user's hand, as better shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is also provided a method for using the scraper 1 for removing wallpaper.

As previously explained, the at least one elongated flat blade 3 is adapted for scraping a surface and mounted on a rigid front portion 7. According to one embodiment of the invention, there is provided one blade 3 with an angle preset to optimize the performance of the wallpaper scraper 1. It will be understood by a person skilled in the art that in another embodiment of the invention, more than one blade 3 is preferably used and that there is preferably provided embodiments wherein the blade's angle is adjustable and wherein the blade 3 is interchangeable. For a longer lasting of the blade 3, the blade 3 is preferably quenched or plated, as aforementioned. Thus, the blade 3 stands up to wear and corrosion. Preferably, the edges of the blade 3 are rounded to prevent unwanted damaging of the wallpaper.

Preferably, and as also previously explained, the handle 5 of the scraper 1 is rigid and has the shape of a substantially hollow cylinder. As the handle 5 is substantially empty, it is lighter and requires less effort from a user. Preferably, the hand palm of the user leans on the handle 5 for more strength. For the convenience of the user, the handle 5 is designed to be a soft grip ergonomic handle 5 and overlaid with a rubber. Preferably, the handle 5 is partially covered with an anti-skid elastomeric covering 15, as better shown in FIG. 1. This anti-skid elastomer provides a user with a better hold preventing the wallpaper scraper 1 from sliding from the users hand during operation. Additional embodiments could also provide different sizes for the handle 5, such as small, medium or large, based on the different hand sizes of the workers. In another embodiment, the handle 5 is moulded according to an optimal position of the user's fingers, and could be provided with corresponding finger-receiving recesses. In further embodiments, the wallpaper scraper 1 is adapted for right- or left-handed users.

As also previously explained, the wallpaper scraper 1 also comprises at least one roller 17 mounted on a rigid rear portion 9 connected to the handle 5. Preferably also, only one roller 17 is mounted on the apparatus. Advantageously, the roller 17 limits the friction of the tool with the supporting surface and thus directly helps increasing the effectiveness of the effort of a user. The roller 17 serves as a guiding roller 17. The roller 17 stabilizes the apparatus and prevents from gouging the wall. The roller 17 is preferably elongated and has a smooth surface so not to damage the surface.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, and as best shown in FIG. 3, the front portion 7, the blade 3 and the rear portion 9 form respectively with the handle 5 corresponding angles θ₁, θ₂ and θ₃ comprised between about 0° and about 180°, as can be easily understood by a person skilled in the art. This preferred configuration leaves a room formed with the concavity of the handle 5 and the front and rear portions 7,9. The room is convenient for receiving a users hand. Thus, the user's hand is free from the wall and the user operates the wallpaper scraper 1 with less chances of scratching his hand against the wall.

As it is more convenient for workers to dispose of multitasking tools, various embodiments for the present invention are preferably provided, for example, wherein the handle 5 is detachable from the rigid front and rear portions 7,9. Thus, the user is capable of detaching the assembly to use the scraper 1 without the roller 17, or the roller 17 without the scraper 1, to reach specific areas or to exert specific pressures. Thus, the handle 5 is preferably kept or removed as an extension for the scraper 1 or the roller 17. Thus, when posing a new wallpaper, the roller 17 can be detached and be used such as a conventional roller as can be easily understood by a person skilled in the art, so as to press the wallpaper against a surface, or facilitate seam formations thereof.

It can also be easily understood that the design of a wallpaper scraper according to the present invention is preferably improved for more attractiveness of the product on the shelves of the providers. Features, such as colour or logo, could also be chosen according to different brand names or advertisements, as aforementioned.

According to another preferred aspect of the present invention, there is also provided a method for using the wallpaper scraper 1 to remove old wallpaper. The method preferably comprises the steps of a) wetting the surface carrying the wallpaper to be removed with water or any suitable liquid facilitating the unsticking of the wallpaper; b) using a wallpaper perforator, drill or puncher, or the scraper 1 itself, as will be understood by a person skilled in the art in light of the aforementioned, for perforating the wet wallpaper for a better penetration of the water into and/or under the wallpaper; c) preferably, wetting the surface again; d) using the wallpaper scraper, holding the handle 5 firmly, pressing towards the blade's side for penetrating the blade 3 between the wallpaper and wall; e) sliding the wallpaper scraper 1 forth to scrap and detach the wallpaper; and f) bringing the wallpaper scraper 1 from back to forth and restarting from step d). This method of use will of course be adapted depending on the above described embodiments and the convenience of the user. The initial angle of the blade 3 at step b) and the guiding roller 17 preferably prevent the apparatus from damaging the wall.

It is worth mentioning also that several modifications could be made to the present scraper without departing from the scope of the present invention, as apparent to a person skilled in the art. For example, in one particular embodiment, corresponding means could be provided so as to selectively adjust the tilt angle of the front and rear portions 7,9 of the scraper 1 with respect to the handle 5 thereof, as well as to selectively adjust other components thereof with respect to other adjacent components, such as the blade 3 with respect to the front portion 7, or the roller assembly 17 with respect to the rear portion 9 thereof.

Furthermore, and as can be easily understood from FIG. 6, the present scraper 1 could also be provided with corresponding recesses, flanges, ribs, shoulders, flanges, and the like 25, so as to enable for a more structurally sound scraper 1, while increasing the lightness thereof, as can be easily understood by a person skilled in the art.

Finally, and according to the present invention, the scraper 1 and corresponding parts are preferably made of substantially rigid materials, such as metallic materials (stainless steel, etc.—particularly for the blade 3), hardened polymers, composite materials, and/or the like, whereas other components thereof (e.g. covering 15 of the handle 5, etc.) according to the present invention, in order to achieve the resulting advantages briefly discussed herein, are preferably made of a suitably malleable and resilient material, such as a polymeric material (plastic, rubber, etc.), and/or the like, depending on the particular applications for which the scraper 1 and resulting tool assembly are intended for and the different parameters in cause (load applied to the blade 3 and handle 5, required grip of the handle 5, etc.), as apparent to a person skilled in the art.

Furthermore, the present invention is a substantial improvement over the prior art in that, by virtue of its design and components, the scraper 1 is simple and easy to use, as well as is simple and easy to manufacture and/or assemble, without compromising the reliability of its functions. Hence, it may now be appreciated that the present invention represents important advantages over other scrapers known in the prior art, as briefly explained hereinabove.

Of course, numerous modifications could be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims. 

1. A scraper for manually scraping a layer of material off a given surface, the scraper comprising: a handle for manual handling of the scraper, the handle having front and rear extremities; a front portion extending forwardly from the front extremity of the handle, at an angle from said handle, the front portion having a top part connected to the front extremity of the handle and a bottom part used for operatively resting the scraper against the given surface to be treated with the scraper; a rear portion extending rearwardly from the rear extremity of the handle, at an angle from said handle, the rear portion having a top part connected to the rear extremity of the handle and a bottom part used for operatively resting the scraper against the given surface to be treated with the scraper; a roller assembly operatively mounted to the bottom part of the rear portion for facilitating displacement of the scraper over the given surface to be treated when its front and rear portions are rested thereagainst; and a tool extending from the bottom part of the front portion, at an angle from the handle, for scrapping off the layer of material from the given surface to be treated via a displacement of the scraper over said given surface.
 2. A scraper according to claim 1, wherein the front and rear portions of the scraper are shaped and sized so as to define thereinbetween a space allowing fingers of a user of the scraper to be placed under the handle, away from the given surface to be treated.
 3. A scraper according to claim 1, wherein the handle is made of a substantially rigid material for sustaining loads to which the scraper may be subjected to, and wherein said handle is further provided with an elastomeric covering for improving an ergonomic handling of the scraper.
 4. A scraper according to claim 3, wherein the handle is made of a material having a color different from that of the elastomeric covering so as to form a visual contrast between the handle and the covering.
 5. A scraper according to claim 4, wherein the roller assembly is made of a material having a color substantially similar to that of the elastomeric covering.
 6. A scraper according to claim 1, wherein the handle and the front and rear portions of the scraper are made of one single piece and out of one single material via a corresponding manufacturing process.
 7. A scraper according to claim 1, wherein at least one sign is produced on the handle, the sign being selected from the group consisting of names, words, numbers, logos, trademarks and symbols conveying information.
 8. A scraper according to claim 1, wherein the roller assembly comprises a shaft pivotally mounted onto opposite ends of the bottom part of the rear portion.
 9. A scraper according to claim 8, wherein the opposite ends of the bottom part of the rear portion are rounded off.
 10. A scraper according to claim 1, wherein the tool is substantially flexible, and wherein said tool is further configured about the bottom part of the front portion so that a distal end of the tool rests at an angle against the given surface to be treated when the front and rear portions of the scraper are pressed against said given surface.
 11. A scraper according to claim 1, wherein side edges of the tool are rounded off.
 12. A scraper according to claim 1, wherein the tool is removably connectable to the bottom part of the front portion.
 13. A scraper according to claim 1, wherein the tool is selected from the group consisting of blade, razor and spatula.
 14. A scraper according to claim 1, wherein the handle comprises an internal bore extending along the handle.
 15. A scraper according to claim 1, wherein the either one of the handle, front portion and rear portion are provided with a reinforcement selected from the group consisting of ribs, flanges, and shoulders.
 16. A scraper according to claim 1, wherein the rear portion is detachable from the rear extremity of the handle.
 17. A scraper according to claim 1, wherein the shaft of the roller assembly is provided with spikes for perforating the layer of material via a passage of the scraper and corresponding roller assembly over the given surface to be treated.
 18. A wallpaper scraper for manually scraping a layer of wallpaper off a given wall surface, the wallpaper scraper comprising: a substantially horizontal handle for manual handling of the scraper, the handle having a longitudinal axis, and front and rear extremities; a front portion extending forwardly from the front extremity of the handle, at an angle from the longitudinal axis of said handle, the front portion having a top part connected to the front extremity of the handle and a bottom part used for operatively resting the scraper against the given surface to be treated with the scraper; a rear portion extending rearwardly from the rear extremity of the handle, at an angle from the longitudinal axis of said handle, the rear portion having a top part connected to the rear extremity of the handle and a bottom part used for operatively resting the scraper against the given surface to be treated with the scraper; a roller assembly operatively mounted to the bottom part of the rear portion for facilitating displacement of the scraper over the given surface to be treated when its front and rear portions are rested thereagainst; and a tool extending from the bottom part of the front portion, at an angle from the longitudinal axis of the handle, for abutting against and scrapping off the layer of material from the given surface to be treated via a displacement of the scraper over said given surface.
 19. A wallpaper scraper according to claim 18, wherein the front and rear portions of the scraper are shaped and sized so as to define thereinbetween a space allowing fingers of a user of the scraper to be placed under the handle, away from the given surface to be treated: wherein the handle is made of a substantially rigid material for sustaining loads to which the scraper may be subjected to, and wherein said handle is further provided with an elastomeric covering for improving an ergonomic handling of the scraper; wherein the handle is made of a material having a color different from that of the elastomeric covering so as to form a visual contrast between the handle and the covering; wherein the roller assembly is made of a material having a color substantially similar to that of the elastomeric covering; wherein the handle and the front and rear portions of the scraper are made of one single piece and out of one single material via a corresponding manufacturing process; wherein the roller assembly comprises a shaft pivotally mounted onto opposite ends of the bottom part of the rear portion; wherein the tool is substantially flexible, and wherein said tool is further configured about the bottom part of the front portion so that a distal end of the tool rests at an angle against the given surface to be treated when the front and rear portions of the scraper are pressed against said given surface; wherein the tool is a blade; wherein the handle comprises an internal bore extending along the handle; and wherein the either one of the handle, front portion and rear portion are provided with a reinforcement selected from the group consisting of ribs, flanges, and shoulders. 